New Research Shows Benefits of UV Exposure
The Power of UV: New Research Reveals the Life-Extending Benefits of Sunlight
At Indigo Sun, we’ve always said, Vitamin D for your life—and now the science backs it up! A groundbreaking study from the University of Edinburgh, published in Health & Place, has revealed a strong link between higher UV exposure and lower mortality rates. Using data from the UK Biobank, researchers found that people who experience more UV light—whether through natural sunlight or responsible solarium use —have a significantly lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer.
This research reinforces what we’ve always believed: responsible tanning and moderate UV exposure are not just about looking great—they’re about feeling great and supporting long-term health.
The answers below are taken directly from the report.
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What UV exposure measures and validation did the study use?
They used Data from UK Biobank participants with two UV exposures, validated with measured vitamin D levels: sunbed use and annual average residential sunlight.
Is there evidence that UVA has health effects independent of UVB?
New evidence suggests that UVA protects against myocardial infraction (Mackay et al., 2019) and COVID-19 mortality, (Cherrie et al., 2021) independent of UVB.
What is the UK’s sunlight context?
The UK is a high latitude and low-sunlight country.
How might public health campaigns be influenced?
Public health campaigns are perhaps influenced by those from extreme UV environments like Australia with pale skinned European populations.
Did sunbed use and residential sunlight relate to vitamin D levels?
In fully adjusted models, sunbed users had higher levels of vitamin D compared to non-sunbed users (Table 2). Participants who resided in places with higher residential sunlight also had higher levels of vitamin D.
What mortality risks were associated with sunbed use?
Sunbed users had a 15% lower risk of all-cause mortality, a 23% lower risk of CVD mortality, a 14% lower risk of cancer mortality, and a 12% lower risk of non-CVD/non-cancer mortality compared with sunbed non-users in fully adjusted models.
How large was the study sample overall and for vitamin D analyses?
502.412 participants in the UK Biobank.
360.803 participants for vitamin D analyses.
Was sunbed use associated with melanoma mortality?
In addition, sunbed use and average residential sunlight were not associated with melanoma mortality.
Do solar UVB and vitamin D supplements provide the same health benefits?
Solar UVB may provide different health benefits from vitamin D supplements.
How might UVA exposure affect blood pressure and hypertension risk?
UVA exposure mobilises Nitric Oxide reserves in the skin and causes vasodilatation, which reduces blood pressure (Liu et al., 2014). Research has demonstrated that sun exposure is associated with reduced risk of hypertension in a dose-dependent manner.
What is the strength of this study’s design?
A strength of the study is that it used a large sample of individuals followed up over time.
How does current public health messaging compare with the study’s findings?
Current public health messaging emphasises the hazards of UV exposure for skin cancer development. However, this study adds to growing evidence that the benefits of UV exposure on mortality outweigh the risks in low sunlight environments.
Who funded this research?
It was funded by the UK Medical Research Council, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council, Department of Health and Social Care (England), Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directories, Health and Social Care Research and Development Division (Welsh Government), Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland), British Heart Foundation and the Wellcome Trust.
